Morning headlines: Friday, April 6, 2012

Missouri House members have approved legislation that would allow advertising on school buses to help districts cover transportation costs.

The legislation would allow school districts to lease space on the inside and exterior of school buses for private advertisements. Ads could not feature gambling, alcohol or tobacco.

The state Board of Education would be responsible for developing rules for the school bus ads. Districts would be required to spend half of the income from the ads on transportation costs.

The House passed the bill Thursday with a vote of 83-65, just one more vote than the minimum needed for approval. The measure now moves to the state Senate.

County Executive Dooley to run for re-election

St. Louis County's top elected official wants another term in office. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports County Executive Charlie Dooley announced Thursday that he will seek re-election in 2014.

Dooley has been executive since succeeding Buzz Westfall after Westfall died in office in 2003. Dooley, a Democrat, won a special election in 2004 and re-election in 2006 and 2010.

Owner of one of St. Louis' tallest buildings gets tax break

The owner of one of the tallest buildings in downtown St. Louis is getting a $4.7 million property tax break.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that a holding company convinced St. Louis assessor Ed Bushmeyer that One AT&T Center is worth far less than its purchase price in 2006 because AT&T, the lone tenant, now fills only half the office space.

The property was acquired for $205 million by Minto Holdings Inc. of Florida and Inland American Real Estate Trust of Oak Brook, Ill.

Inland's affiliate, MB St. Louis convinced Bushmeyer that the building is now worth about $70 million less than what it sold for six years ago.

St. Louis County Executive is defending his proposed budget that includes layoffs and closing some 20 parks and other facilities. In a letter to the county council dated Tuesday, Dooley laid out the options for dealing with declining property tax revenues and rising costs. Dooley says it’s time for the county to live within its means.